Potential dependent selective dissolution of Ti–6Al–4V and laser treated Ti–6Al–4V in acid/chloride media

The corrosion properties of Ti–6Al–4V and laser surface melted (LSM) Ti–6Al–4V samples were investigated in 0.05 M H₂SO₄/0.05 M NaCl solution. Laser surface treatment was found to increase the corrosion potential and decrease the corrosion rates of the alloy. The current–potential profile of the LSM was found to be generally noisy below 0.5 V, indicating an unstable surface, which undergoes continuous dissolution and repassivation. However, above 0.5 V the LSM specimen exhibited higher corrosion current compared to the untreated alloy. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis of metals in solution was carried out after controlled potential electrolysis. Generally, the aluminium percentage was found to be the highest in solution compared to titanium and vanadium. The aluminium percentage in solution reached 94% compared to titanium and vanadium upon polarization in the passive region at 1.01 V. SEM showed that some local and shallow pitting to occur in both the untreated and LSM alloy. EDS results showed that aluminium composition of the electrolysed alloy surface is lower than the original material composition, and decreased from 6% in the original alloy to 0.18% after two hours of electrolysis of the LSM specimen.